Method for anchoring a mitral valve

ABSTRACT

An artificial mitral valve is anchored in the left atrium by placing the valve between the annulus of the natural mitral valve and an artificial annulus. The artificial annulus is formed by inserting a tool into the coronary sinus, and adjusting the tool to force the wall of the left atrium to form an annulus above the artificial valve, this locking it in place and forming a hemostatic seal.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

2. Description of the Related Art

The art of artificial heart valves is well known. Recently there is a strong interest in minimally invasive methods of replacing defective heart valves, and in particular in percutaneous deployment methods. In those procedures, the new valve is delivered and all the steps to install it, are performed via a fairly narrow catheter, typically 8-10 mm diameter.

Replacing major surgery with the small incision needed for inserting such a catheter is a major step in cardiac surgery.

The mitral valve is a particularly difficult case as the heart has an unfavorable geometry for anchoring a replacement valve. In conventional cardiac surgery the new valve is sutured to the tissue around the natural valve, which is surrounded by an annular ring of more rigid tissue known as the valve annulus. This procedure is not practical for percutaneous surgery. The main object of the invention is to devise an anchoring method for a replacement mitral valve. A further object is making the method both reversible and percutaneous.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An artificial mitral valve is anchored in the left atrium by placing the valve between the annulus of the natural mitral valve and an artificial annulus. The artificial annulus is formed by inserting a tool into the coronary sinus, and adjusting the tool to force the wall of the left atrium to form an annulus above the artificial valve, thus locking the artificial mitral valve in place and forming a hemostatic seal. The artificial mitral valve can be held by compression from above or by circumferential compression from the tool. The compression can be released in order to remove the artificial mitral valve, if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of the heart, showing the left and right atriums.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the heart as in FIG. 1, showing a deployed artificial mitral valve.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the heart as in FIG. 1, showing an artificial mitral valve anchored in place according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a general view of the anchoring tool.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the use of the anchoring tool in a percutaneous operation.

FIG. 6A is a partial isometric view of the anchoring tool.

FIG. 6B is a side elevational view of a portion of the anchoring tool.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the use of the invention in anchoring a balloon expandable valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the cross section of the upper part of the heart shows the left atrium 1, the right atrium 2, pulmonary veins 3 and 4, tricuspid valve 5 and mitral valve 6, interventricular septum 7, atrioventricular septum 8, coronary sinus 10, interatrial septum 11, and tendon of Todaro 12. An artificial mitral valve 32 is introduced into the left atrium to replace a defective mitral valve 6. The artificial mitral valve 32 is of flexible construction in order to be deployed percutaneously via a catheter 38. For deployment the artificial mitral valve 32 is compressed into an elongated oval shape. The art of percutaneous deployment is well known in minimally invasive surgery. One way to deploy the artificial mitral valve 32 is to pass catheter 38 via septum 11, after entering the right atrium via the superior vena cava. An anchoring tool 9 is shown in FIG. 1 already inside the coronary sinus 10. The periphery of mitral valves 6 is less flexible and forms a shape 39 known as the mitral valve annulus.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the artificial mitral valve 32 is allowed to expand to its normal form. The artificial mitral valve 32 comprises of very flexible leaflets 34, and a less flexible annulus 33. The overall shape of the artificial mitral valve 32 is matched to the area above the mitral valve annulus, which is generally “D” shaped. The cross section of the annulus can be round, oval, rectangular or any other shape suitable for forming a hemostatic seal when seated above the annulus 39 of the defective mitral valve 6. Annulus 33 can also be composed of multiple materials, some more rigid to better control the shape and some more flexible to help if forming a hemostatic seal. For example, annulus 33 can be made of soft silicone rubber with a Nitinol wire ring embedded in the annulus to control the shape of the ring. The leaflets 34 can be made of silicone rubber, Dacron or any other thin flexible material which is compatible with the heart. Artificial mitral valves capable of being delivered via a catheter are commercially available from Edwards Life Sciences (www.edwards.com).

At this stage the anchoring tool 9 is in the coronary sinus but the anchoring tool 9 is left in the relaxed and flexible position, as explained later on.

After the artificial mitral valve 32 is placed at the final location above the defective valve 3, the artificial mitral valve 32 has to be anchored into place. The artificial mitral valve 32 is brought into the correct position by using the delivery catheter to push the artificial mitral valve 32 downwards (this is also aided by the downwards blood flow). To secure the artificial mitral valve 32 in place, a second annulus, similar to the natural annulus 39 of the mitral valve 6, is created above the artificial mitral valve 32 by a ring-like anchoring tool 9 shown in cross section in FIG. 3. When anchoring tool 9 is tightened it pulls in the outside wall of left atrium 1 as well as interatrial septum 11 to form an almost full ring 36 around the valve annulus 33. This locks the artificial mitral valve 32 between the natural annulus 39 of mitral valve 6 and an artificial annulus 36. By further tightening anchoring tool 9 a hemostatic seal is established. Since valve annulus 33 is flexible (as is anchoring tool 9) it will conform to the exact shape of the natural annulus 39. Inside the right atrium, tool 9 is placed against the interatrial septum 11 just above tendon of Todaro 12.

Details of anchoring tool 9 are shown in FIG. 4. Anchoring tool 9 is made of rigid links 25 connected by two flexible cables 26 and 27. Protrusions or barbs 28 can be added to increase anchoring in the coronary sinus. A barb 24 is mounted on end piece 23. This barb is covered by tube 21 of adjustment tool 15. When tube 21 is detached from end piece 23, barb 24 springs open and secures the position of anchoring tool 9 relative to septum 11 (shown in FIG. 1). The shape of anchoring tool 9 is adjusted by tensioning cable 26 by turning screw 22 using matching socket 21 connected to inner flexible tube 19. Both anchoring tool 9 and flexible tube 15 have a hole for guide wire 18. Flexible tube 19 can rotate freely inside flexible adjustment tool 15. Both adjustment tool 15 and inner flexible tube are made of metal bellows type hose or of a braided hose, as these type hoses are torsionally stiff but easy to bend. It is desirable to make screw 22 and socket 20 of a ferromagnetic material, and provide a small rare-earth magnet (not shown) inside socket 20. This facilitates locating screw 22 if adjustment tool 15 has to be re-connected to anchoring tool 9 inside the heart.

Referring now to FIG. 5 and FIG. 4, the percutaneous use of an embodiment of the invention is shown. Anchoring tool 9 is attached to flexible adjustment tool 15 and is inserted into the right atrium 2 via catheter 14, typically through the superior vena cava 13 over a guide wire 18. Guide wire 18 is inserted first, via ostium 37, all the way to the end of the coronary sinus 10. Tools 9 and 15 are guided by the wire 18. Anchoring tool 9 can be bent into shape by turning knob 17 while holding shaft 16. Turning knob 17 will turn socket 20 and tighten cable 26. To release adjustment tool 15, knob 17 is pressed into shaft 16 causing tool 9 to be ejected from tube 21 and embed barb 24 in septum 11. The operation is fully reversible as long as guide wire 18 is in place. It is even possible to re-adjust or remove anchoring tool 9 at a later date, if socket 20 can be lined up with screw 22. This is assisted by magnetic attraction, as explained earlier. The reversibility of the operation is a major advantage should the artificial mitral valve 32 need to be removed.

The same tool can be used both as an adjustment tool for controlling regurgitation in a natural mitral valve and as an anchoring tool for an artificial mitral valve. This is important as in many cases an adjustment can correct the problem in the natural mitral valve, without need for installing an artificial mitral valve. At a later date an artificial mitral valve may be required. In such a case, anchoring tool 9 simply needs to be loosened, an artificial mitral valve installed and anchoring tool 9 re-tightened.

A more detailed view of anchoring tool 9 is given in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Each one of links 25 are cut at an angle 31. Angles 31 and length of links 25 determine the final shape of anchoring tool 9 when cable 26 is fully tightened. In order to keep links 25 in a single plane, the ends are cut in a V-shape as shown in insert drawing 40, which depicts a side view of links 25. The V shaped cut can be aligned with the longitudinal axis, as shown in 40, or can form an arbitrary angle to it. In such a case anchoring tool 9 will acquire a three-dimensional shape when tightened rather than fit in a single plane. Tightening screw 22 pulls nut 30 and tensions cable 26, causing anchoring tool 9 to tighten towards the final shape. The cross section of links 25 is designed to allow maximal blood flow in the coronary sinus. Cable 26 is permanently attached to nut 30 and to the last link (not shown), which is the link furthest away from end piece 23. Cable 27 is permanently attached to the last link but not attached to end piece 23 in order to accommodate the change in length when anchoring tool 9 is changing from straight to curved. When cable 26 is loosened, anchoring tool 9 is very flexible, similar to a chain. When cable 26 is fully tight, anchoring tool 9 can exert considerable force (a few Kg) in the radial direction.

By the way of example, anchoring tool 9 is made of type 316 stainless steel, with links 25 having a cross section of about 2×3 mm, and a length of about 12 mm each. Each links has three holes about 1 mm diameter each. Cables 26 and 27 are made of stainless steel as well and have an outside diameter of about 0.8 mm. Screw 22 is made of 400 series stainless (to be magnetic) and is 2 mm diameter with 3 mm hex head.

The term “annulus” in this disclosure has to be broadly interpreted. It need not be a complete circle, as anchoring tool 9 encircles the majority of the artificial mitral valve circumference but not all of it, due to the presence of the aortic valve. The term “artificial annulus” should be understood as any arc-like retention feature formed by anchoring tool 9. Also, while the preferred embodiment shows the artificial annulus formed above the artificial mitral valve, it is obvious that the artificial annulus can be used to anchor the artificial mitral valve even without being above it. By the way of example, the periphery of the artificial mitral valve can have a groove and the artificial annulus can engage this groove. In a different embodiment the base of the artificial mitral valve can be wider than the top part, thus allowing anchoring by an artificial annulus. It is also clear that the anchoring tool 9 need not be made of individual links. The anchoring tool 9 can be made of an elastic material such as Nitinol and rely on the elastic force to form the artificial annulus. While the term “anchoring” in this disclosure implies forming a hemostatic seal between the artificial valve annulus and the existing mitral vale annulus, it is understood that the seal need not be perfect to practice the invention, as any small gaps tend to seal themselves over time due to formation of scar tissue and deposits. A further improvement can be in the form of adding magnets to the artificial valve annulus and adding ferromagnetic material to anchoring tool 9. This helps align the artificial mitral valve 32 with the artificial annulus. While the force of the magnets may be insufficient to retain the artificial mitral valve 32, it is sufficient to hold in the correct position until anchoring tool 9 is tightened.

An alternate way of using the artificial annulus is to use it as an anchoring base for a balloon expandable valve. Balloon expandable valves are well known in the art and are used, for example, as replacement aortic valves. Until now they were not used as mitral valves since there was no sufficiently rigid surface to expand the balloon against. FIG. 7 shows use of an anchoring tool 9 to form a rigid artificial annulus 36, then expansion of a balloon mounted valve 42, mounted on balloon 41, into the rigid structure that was formed.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the commonly assigned US patent application publications, US patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, including but not limited to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/475,978, filed Jun. 28, 2006 are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for anchoring an artificial mitral valve in a left atrium of a heart, the method comprising: deploying the artificial mitral valve in the left atrium of the heart; positioning the artificial mitral valve above a natural annulus of a natural mitral valve in the heart; and shaping an atrial wall to form an artificial annulus to anchor artificial mitral valve.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein shaping an atrial wall to form an artificial annulus includes shaping the atrial wall to form the artificial annulus at least one of above or around the artificial mitral valve.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: percutaneously deploying the artificial mitral valve in the left atrium.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: inserting a tool in the coronary sinus to at least partially form the artificial annulus.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein deploying the artificial mitral valve includes expanding a balloon.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: permanently installing a tool in the coronary sinus to at least partially form the artificial annulus.
 7. A method to replicate a function of a natural mitral valve in a left atrium of a heart, the natural mitral valve about which a coronary sinus of the heart at least partially extends, the method comprising: inserting an artificial mitral valve inside an opening formed by the natural mitral valve in the left atrium of the heart; inserting an elongate member in a flexible state at least partially into the coronary sinus while in the flexible state such that the elongate member at least partially encircles a portion of the artificial mitral valve; and while the elongate member is at least partially in the coronary sinus, transitioning the elongate member from the flexible state to a more rigid state in which the elongate member forms an artificial annulus to physically secure the artificial mitral valve in the opening.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: adjusting the elongate member during the installation in the heart; and removing the elongated member from the coronary sinus at a later date.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein the elongate member comprises a plurality of rigid links and a cable that connects the rigid links, and transitioning the elongate member from the flexible state to a more rigid state includes tensioning of the cable.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: percutaneously delivering the elongate member to the left atrium of the heart via a detachable adjustment tool.
 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising: delivering the elongate member via a catheter using an adjustment tool, and detaching the elongate member from the adjustment tool to expose at least one elastic barb on the elongate member.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: delivering the elongate member via a catheter using an adjustment tool to which the elongate member is detachably magnetically coupled.
 13. The method of claim 7, further comprising: securing the artificial mitral valve without sutures between said artificial annulus and the heart.
 14. A method to replicate a function of a natural mitral valve in a left atrium of a heart, a coronary sinus of the heart forming a path extending at least partially about the natural mitral valve, the method comprising: percutaneously inserting an artificial mitral valve inside an opening formed by the natural mitral valve of the heart; percutaneously inserting an elongate member in a flexible state in the coronary sinus; and percutaneously adjusting a dimension of the elongate member to form an artificial annulus in the coronary sinus to physically secure the artificial mitral valve in the opening without any sutures between the artificial mitral valve and the heart.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: delivering the artificial mitral valve and the elongate member via a catheter.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the elongate member comprises a plurality of rigid links and a cable that connects the rigid links, and percutaneously adjusting a dimension of the elongate member includes tensioning the cable.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein percutaneously adjusting a dimension of the elongate member includes tensioning the elongate member into the more rigid state to apply a radially inward force to an annulus of the artificial mitral valve via the coronary sinus to secure the annulus of the artificial valve between a natural annulus of the natural mitral valve and the artificial annulus formed by the elongate member.
 18. The method of claim 14 wherein percutaneously adjusting a dimension of the elongate member includes moving a tension adjustment coupler in one direction to increase a tension in the elongate member or moving the tension adjustment coupler in another direction to decrease the tension in the elongate member.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the tension adjustment coupler is part of a magnetic coupler assembly, and further comprising: magnetically mating the magnetic coupler assembly with a portion of an adjustment tool which portion is at least partially percutaneously receivable in the heart. 